Guild Update 30th May 2014

New Members

Jo Hook writes:

We welcome the following new members into the Guild:

·         Martin Shakespeare from Shropshire joins. His interests are Ypres, Kemmel Hill & Locre, The Yser Front, The Home Front in the Great War

·         Edwin Popken from The Netherlands joins. His interests are Market Garden, Veritable, Ardennes, Liberation, South Netherlands

·         Francesco Di Cintio from Italy joins. His interests are the Deployment of the British Airborne forces during WWII (Africa, Sicily Italy Normandy Arnhem) Allied Campaign in Italy (1943-1945) relationship between Special Forces and Italian Partisans and Falklands Ward

Normandy Recce 12th - 17th September 2014

Secretary writes:

The planning for the Normandy Recce tour due to take place between the 12th - 17th September is now largely complete and so far the following members have indicated that they will be coming:

·         Tony Smith

·         Ian Mitchell

·         John Greene

·         Hugh & Mrs Jenner

·         Nigel Dunkerley

·         Mike Jarmain

·         Derek Young

·         Chris Payne

·         Robin Burrows-Ellis

·         Adrian Ridley-Jones

·         Bob Brunsdon

·         Johnny Walker

Maybes are

·         Wybo Boersma

·         Terry Webb

·         Paul Oldfield

·         Mike Scott

As a preamble Paul Oldfield will be leading a tour on the 11th which will look at activity this side of the Channel. This will include a tour of Southwick House where the main planning took place.

I will shortly be organising the accommodation so if any other member would like to join what promises to be a very informative and educational trip please could they let me know asap.

Help Wanted

Patrick Stace writes:

I am currently undertaking an MA in war studies at the University of Birmingham,  my dissertation examines the reasons behind the British infantry shortage that occurred in 1944.

As part of my research I have put together a short questionnaire,  aimed at Second World War veterans and I would like to ask fellow guild members for assistance with its distribution. If they know any veterans who would complete the questionnaire for me I will be more than happy to supply copies of it and will include a pre-paid self-addressed envelope for its return. I would be most grateful for any assistance in this matter.  If anybody is able to help in this endeavour please contact me via email.  pstace@live.com

Badged Guides Dinner

Graeme Cooper writes:

The undermentioned Badged Guides have registered for the 4th Annual Badged Guides Dinner in London on 8th August.

There is a limit of 24 places at this year’s very special venue.  Deadline for registration is 10 June in order to calculate prices.

Bids soonest please to Graeme Cooper cooper@waterlootours.co.uk

8 places remain – first come first served

·         Bob Darby

·         Christopher Newbould

·         John Cotterill

·         Chris Scott

·         Tim Stoneman

·         Peter Hewlett - Smith

·         Alan Wood

·         Tim Saunders

·         Tony Scott

·         Paul Oldfield

·         Mike Sheil

·         Mike Scott

·         Terry Webb

·         Bob Brunsdon

·         Graeme Cooper

Regards

Graeme

Q Ships, Convoys and U Boats A Riverside Walk 18.30-21.00 Tuesday 17 June 2014 Tower Hill Westminster London

Secretary writes:

Members may be interested in the following:

The naval side of  WW1 is the forgotten front.  The WW1  U boat war against Britain was a key part of German strategy and one that nearly brought Britain to its knees. It has not had as much publicity as the Western Front, but it was a matter of life and death for the British population who faced starvation if the Germans succeeded.

In 1914 the Port of London was one of the main ports in the world.  The  Thames was a focal point for trade and for the merchant ships which rang the gauntlet of the U Boats. Along the Thames are memorials to the naval war, including two veteran ships as well as sculptures and plaques.  Tower Hill was selected as the location of the memorial to the Merchant Men who lost their lives both world wars.  This walk starts at Tower Hill Tube Station at 18.30 and ends at Westminster around 21.00 in front of the modern Ministry of Defence and the naval memorials a short walk from Trafalgar Square and Nelson's Column.

The walk will be led by Frank Baldwin the Chairman of the Battlefields Trust. Bring some money for refreshments en route and clothing appropriate for the weather.  We will be holding an Act of Remembrance at the Tower Hill Memorial to the Missing. 

The tour is free for Battlefields Trust Members. Non-members are asked to make a donation of £5 via Just Giving, using the link to the right, and email helen@battlefieldstrust.org to let us know that you are attending, so we can manage the number of stewards we may need.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

BBC News

·         Weymouth remembers D-Day invasion role - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-27619248

·         D-Day bagpipes in Liverpool en route for Normandy anniversary - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-27362098

·         Vintage D-Day military vehicles depart for France - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-27633057

·         World War One poet Hedd Wyn's home gets £2.8m boost - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-27610151

Guild Update 23rd May 2014

Battle of Bellewaarde 1915

Mike Peters writes:

I have received an appeal for support for the development of a memorial for the Battle of Bellewaarde which members may be interested in supporting. Please see http://bellewaarde1915.co.uk/personal%20letter.htm

Op Market Garden Conference

Wybo Boersma writes:

I have received the following which may be of interest to members:

I am a lecturer at the University of Wolverhampton in England and together with my colleague, Professor John Buckley, am organising a conference on 10/11th September 2014 which may be of interest to you. It is entitled 'Highway to the Reich' and will examine Operation MARKET GARDEN and the battle for the Low Countries in the Autumn of 1944. I attach a link to our website page:

http://www.wlv.ac..uk/default.aspx?page=39270

Military Guided Walks in Paris

Neil Bright writes:

I have some clients going on to Paris after their London trip. Are there any Guild members who know of military guided walks in Paris please?

Please contact me at neilbrightafs@gmail.com

London Lunches

Andy Thompson writes:

Please note that we have cancelled the lunch planned for Oct 10th. It appears that the date clashes with various other events in the Guild’s calendar and, being a busy time generally, no other suitable date could be found thus the event has been cancelled. The last lunch of the year will be the Christmas Lunch  on FRIDAY DECEMBER 5th – further details in September

Tour de France Ypres

Andy Thompson writes:

Ypres Wednesday July 9th. Those guides who are regularly in Belgium will be aware that the Flanders leg of the Tour de France starts in Ypres on July 9th. Although the riders have a photo start in front of the Cloth Hall, the race proper begins on one of the main artery roads and the organisers have posted a series of significant road closers for parts of the day. This will almost certainly impact on sites in and around the salient and anyone working in the area on that day should check details with the Ieper Tourist Office -www.toerisme-ieper.be

Western Front Interpretation Centre at Villers Bretonneux

Andy Thompson writes:               

The Australian Government has committed $6.9 million for a Western Front Interpretive Centre at Villers-Bretonneux, in the first budget of Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

The budget saw wide-sweeping cuts across government departments, with the Department for Veterans' Affairs being allocated over $12 billion in funding.

The Federal Budget for 2014-15 has committed $6.5 billion in pensions and income support and $5.4 billion in health services, with a particular emphasis on treating those returning from recent conflicts who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Acknowledging the Centenary of Anzac as "the most significant commemoration in our nation's history", the Department for Veterans' Affairs said that the $6.9 million promised for a new Western Front Interpretive Centre at Villers-Bretonneux in France would be an "enduring legacy".

The Villers-Bretonneux Australian National Memorial serves as a focal point for Australian remembrance on the Western Front. Unveiled by King George VI in 1938, the memorial bears the names of more than 10,000 men of the Australian Imperial Force.

Additional funding to support grass-roots Centenary commemorations was also secured in the budget. A further $125,000 per electorate will be made available under the Anzac Centenary Local Grants Programme.

Source: Department of Veterans' Affairs press release. Date of press release publication: 13/05/2014

Battle of Bouvines 800th Anniversary Conference Friday 25th – Sunday 27th July 2014

Frank Baldwin writes:

I am writing to offer Guild Members an opportunity to join the Battlefields Trust Conference in France on the 800th anniversary of the Battle of Bouvines.

The Battle of Bouvines which took place near Lille on 27th July 1214 is one of the most significant events in British, if not world history.  The defeat of the Emperor Otto by the French King Philip was the act that condemned Otto's Uncle King John of England to dealing with his recalcitrant barons and the sealing of the Magna Carta.   The Battlefields Trust will be taking a group to the Commemorations of the 800th anniversary of the Battle of Bouvines.  This will be a fitting start to our own Magna Carta 800th Battlefields Project to develop battlefield groups to support the sites associated with the battles and sieges of the Barons Wars 1214-67

Our party will be led by Harvey Watson and the historian and GBG member Dr Matthew Bennett,  will be providing historic expertise.  Our group will be joined by Sir Robert Worcester the Chair of the Magna Carta 800th Committee, our partners in the Magna Carta 800th Battlefield project. 

We will be taking part in the commemorations organised by the French authorities for the 800th Anniversary

We will base our expedition in hotels in the city centre of Lille, which will allow you to enjoy the atmosphere and local restaurants of this gem of French Flanders.

 

If the numbers allow we plan to hire a coach which will pick up travellers from North of London.

PROGRAMME

FRIDAY 25TH JULY 2014:  TRAVEL TO  LILLE

·         12.00 noon (BST) Coach party depart London

·         6.30 pm (CET)  Arrive Lille Check into hotel

·         19.30 pm   Briefiing on Visit plan.

·         Evening meal in local restaurants Lille city centre.

SATURDAY 26TH JULY 2014 VISITS

·         AM – Visit to the Fort du Seclin

·         PM  - Battlefield tour of Bouvines Battlefield

·         TBC visit to the museum at Mons-en-Pévèle 

This is a provisional programme which may change as the details of the French commemorations become clear. We hope to hold talks on:-

·         Warfare in the C13th

·         The campaign that led to Bouvines

·         Battles and Sieges of the  Barons Wars

·         The Maga Carta 800th  project

·         France and Flanders in the C13-14th

Evening meal in local restaurants Lille city centre.

SUNDAY 27TH JULY 2014 PARTICIPATION IN THE 800TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIONS

·         AM Church service and commemoration Bouvines Church

·         PM  Concert Seclin

·         17.30 depart for the UK.

·         21.00 ETA London

Accommodation has been reserved at the Ibis Hotel Lille and Holiday Inn Express Lille Centre. 

The tour has been costed on a minimum of 20 delegates who can share the cost of a coach, which will allow us to travel in comfort and pick up delegates North of London.   In the event that fewer than 20 delegates join the tour, we plan to undertake the tour using private cars. Drivers willing to take two others in their car will be paid a travel allowance of £300 to cover the cost of fuel and a ferry ticket. We will refund to anyone not wishing to travel on this basis. 

For further information download the .Conference programme from the Battlefields Trust Website

CWGC Cemetery Tours

Mike Peters writes:

Members may be interested to note that the CWGC is now offering free guided tours for school groups in a selection of its sites. The tours, which are led by its fully-trained education guides, are available at the following sites:

·         Southampton (Hollybrook)

·         Plymouth (Weston Mill)

·         Oxford (Botley)

·         Cambridge City

·         Cannock Chase (Staffordshire)

The tours will enable students to gain a greater understanding of the First and Second World Wars and the role of the local community in both conflicts. 

·         Find out about the service men and women who were cared for in local hospitals, died of wounds and are buried in our sites

·         Learn about local training bases and prisoner of war camps and the stories of those who passed through their doors

·         Find out more about the construction of our sites. Learn what a Cross of Sacrifice is, and find out about the importance of the Stone of Remembrance

·         Use research skills to trace the grave of a local person and find out more about how they lived and died

·         Pay your respects to those who lost their lives

·         Ask questions and find out more from our knowledgeable, fully trained guides

To find out more please email education@cwgc.org

Remuneration for those working on behalf of the Guild

James Dinsdale writes:

Further to my recent circular on this subject I have concluded my deliberations and will be making recommendations at the next Council Meeting prior to informing members.

Guild AGM

Secretary writes:

The Guild AGM weekend will be held from the 21st - 23rd November 2014 as before at Bromsgrove. Full details will be placed on the website shortly. There will be a slight hike in costs this year of around £10 per head. Next year we will be seeking a different venue to ring the changes – so if any member has any suggestions I would welcome them. 

Best Regards

Tony Smith

Guild Secretary